An 11-year-old girl in Hinesville, Georgia, flagged down a patrol car on April 19 and told officers she believed her father was trying to kill her. Police say the child was visibly distressed and had bruises; a leather belt and a tee-ball bat were seized from the home as evidence. Anthony Salazar, 35, was arrested and faces three counts of cruelty to children and one count of aggravated battery; the case is awaiting indictment and arraignment. Authorities urged anyone who suspects child abuse to contact the Childhelp hotline.
11-Year-Old Flags Down Patrol Car, Says Father Tried to Kill Her — Man Arrested in Georgia
Anthony Salazar.Credit: Chatham County Jail
An 11-year-old girl in Hinesville, Georgia, flagged down a patrol car on April 19 and told officers she believed her father was trying to kill her, according to a police incident report obtained by WTOC.
What Happened
Police say the girl appeared visibly disturbed and had bruises on her body when she approached the patrol vehicle near a gas station. Officers went to the family home and encountered 35-year-old Anthony Salazar, who investigators reported had been drinking heavily.
Evidence and Charges
Investigators recovered a leather belt and a tee-ball bat inside the residence; both items were taken as evidence, WTOC reported. Online court records reviewed by PEOPLE show Salazar was arrested and charged with three counts of cruelty to children and one count of aggravated battery. The case is awaiting a formal indictment and arraignment.
Responses and Next Steps
An attorney for Salazar initially declined to comment to PEOPLE and later said an update would be provided after the indictment and arraignment processes are complete. Hinesville police did not respond to PEOPLE's request for additional information.
Support and Resources
If you suspect child abuse, authorities urge you to contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) or visit www.childhelp.org. Calls are confidential, toll-free and available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
Note: Allegations in this report are based on an incident report and court filings. Charges are pending; all parties are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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